136 
m 
By October the 25th the epidermis of the berry had wrinkled 
considerably, indicating over-ripeness, and had lost the beautiful pink 
shade, which now gave way to a yellowish tint. On the 29th it was 
so badly shrivelled and faded that I removed the specimen, with a 
portion of the stem, from the plant and place'd it in glycerine, so that 
I might be enabled to exhibit it to the Torrey Club. 
A word in regard to the fruit of the Cereus grandiflorus^ which is 
as short-lived as the one under consideration. At my request, a friend 
sent me a berry of the grandiflortis from Cuba, five or six years ago. 
It was removed from the plant with a portion of the stem attached, 
before fully ripe, and was not quite six days in reaching its destina- 
tion. A special messenger brought it to me on the arrival of the 
steamer in port. It was carefully packed in cotton and had not been 
handled or bruised in any way, but when I opened the package the 
fruit showed such evidence of decomposition that I could not have it 
painted. It was of a dark yellowish or chamois-color, of an ovoid 
shape and covered with spines, and woolly hair of a dirty yellowish 
shade. This fruit is edible and is sought after by man, birds and 
beasts. 
4 r 
The pulp has an aromatic flavor, and by some people the fruit is 
considered a delicacy when it can be obtained before the birds have 
feasted upon it. 
The fruit of Cereus serpentinus, Lagasca, which is another of the 
night-flowering plants of the genus Cereus, will remain for a year on 
the plant if not molested. Mr. Peter B. Mead of Mamaroneck, who 
ripened its berry, informs me that it remained in color (which was of 
a deep pink) for about four months. The one which he forwarded 
to Dr. Engelmann was seven months old, and the doctor informed 
the sender that its seeds were not quite ripe within. The serpentine 
Cereus has now been fruited by Mr. Mead for three years in succes- 
sion, 
R. E. KuNZE 
J* 
Calendula officinalis— I was interested last September in seeing 
in a dense grass-sward by the road-side near a house, the golden 
heads of the potherb, or golden marigold, peeping out and seeming 
quite at home. Of course it was an estray; but the plant was not 
growing in any garden near by. I dare not say it was established, 
though it seemed to be. 
J 
S. LOCKWOOD 
Shortia — Friends of botany will be sorry to learn of the dying 
out of Shortia. In a note just received from Mr. M. E. Hyams of 
Statesville, N. C, he informs me that it is dying out from its only 
locality, not six specimens being left. 
E. S. Miller. 
Ilex Dahoon, Wait., var. myrtifolia, Chapman.— We have 
received a variety of this plant with yellow berries from Dr. 1- 
F. Wood, of Wilmington, N. C, who remarks: "This is the first 
time I have ever seen this variety, although I had heard of its exist- 
